These are flowers from my mother-in-law’s yard.  They were taken last August when we went to Vancouver Washington for our annual visit.  I was going to post these pictures closer to spring or summer but it has been so cold and cloudy for so long I needed a little brightening today.  Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

I am still in the middle of painting my kitchen cabinets.  It’s been about five years since I painted my dated, stained and veneered oak cabinets creamy white.  While I adore creamy white (I would paint my ENTIRE house Behr’s Cottage White if my family would let me) it is hard to keep pristine with three grimy little boys.  That is why I am painting them green.  I do like the lakeside cottage feel I am getting from the kitchen now.  Anyway, I guess that is a long-winded way to say, I haven’t had time to do anything but paint and I don’t have anything to post but pretty pictures.  I should be finished up enough to post some before and after pictures by the end of the week.  Thanks for bearing with me !

      I know this is not the best quality picture.  It was taken with my old phone.  I cleaned it up as much as I could in Photoshop but it still is not quite there but, I still love it and can’t stop thinking about it.  Isn’t life kinda like that though?  Sometimes no matter how much you try you can’t come close to ideal,  and you know what?  That’s okay. 

     A few weeks ago I posted some pictures taken by my oldest son on a day hike in Bell Canyon.  Today, I am featuring more pictures of Bell Canyon but these were taken by my daughter.  Above is a picture of Bell Canyon Reservoir.

 Here are a couple of shots taken of a stream that feeds the reservoir.

     I think I’ve got a budding photographer on my hands.  She’s got a great eye and an appreciation for nature’s beauty.  (Again, I have earned my Mother’s Bragging Rights by being thrown up on, spending sleepless nights worrying about sick babies, and patiently cutting the crusts off of every sandwich for 13 years now.)  If you are considering this hike you may want to check out this link for more detailed information.  Thanks for stopping by.

     These are pictures taken at Seaside Oregon.  I took these during our family vacation last month.  It doesn’t look like a picture of the beach taken in mid-July does it?  It was cold and rainy but we played on the beach anyway. 

     I really wanted to get pictures of blue skies or maybe a sunset over the ocean, but as I tell the kids, “You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit!”  So I bring you gloomy sea and skies.  I do think these is a certain beauty to these scenes though.  Hope you agree.  I am linking up to Watery Wednesdays.  Hop on over to see beautiful photography featuring water scenes.  Thanks for stopping by.  Hope your week is more sunny than my pictures!